Back to Basics

So far this week has thankfully been a little easier going with rehearsals being the main act of activity, giving me time to get back home and grab a few essentials for the up and coming weeks in college. The fact that I’m back home has also given me the time and space I need to catch up on my practice and seeing as I have full access to an acoustic drum kit (compared to the un-inspiring electric kit in the flat) time is not being wasted.
Talks with a fellow student at college really opened up my thoughts on the whole practicing regime and how time spent should be more disciplined. I remember countless times when I’ve sat down for a few hours of practice and its been wasted by bad habits of playing along to my favourite songs and soloing with my preferred grooves which is great, but doesn’t help in the making of an all round better musician.
With this in mind I have composed an 80-minute regime that covers all the areas that I need to work on such as chart reading, time keeping, jazz and co-ordination. I hope that running through this regime every morning will soon see improvement in my playing and strengthen me on my weaknesses.
In these up and coming weeks I am also thinking about going back to basics on both my trombone and violin playing for these last two years without an instrumental instructor has taking its toll on my technique. Over this time period habits like bad posture, intonation and articulation have crept in and so I feel that going back to scales, arpeggios and positioning in both bowing and slide will gradually make me a stronger player.
College this week has went as usual with jazz studies continuing in first study class and band work consisting of rehearsals through our chosen Beatle covers.
In graded unit this week our guest speaker was lecturer and session musician Pete Honeymoon who talked about his career in Scotland, leaving us with some great advice in terms of working in the studio with a producer and with Musical Directors. Key points of the talk were features that Pete recognised to be the most important in becoming established as a session artist such as stylistic versatility, confidence, mental strength and situational awareness. The talk also made me think about the professionalism and quality of my instrument (or should I say the lack of) and so, next on the list for investment is a new drum kit.
I have also been lucky enough this week to be asked to play on a degree project for 3rd year bassist Jamie Rosie. I have played with Jamie many a time and feel that the project would be a good challenge. The repertoire that he is hoping to perform is very complex and rhythmically challenging with songs from such artists as Rush, Victor Wooten and Stanton Moore.

Although the week has been quiet there is never enough time in the world for practice or catching up on college work and so with that in mind it’s back to studies in an attempt to expand my practical musicianship and musical knowledge.